I had the immense privilege to connect with Anne Mok through a Jilly Academy virtual alumni event. The Jilly Academy is an online platform curated for small business owners, entrepreneurs, aspiring influencers and anyone who is wanting to learn the ins and outs of brand strategy, influencer marketing, content creation, photography, digital storytelling and so much more. During the event, Anne spoke about the work that she does and how the JIlly Academy courses supported her with this work. What she shared about accessibility and social media made me realize that I had A LOT more to learn so I reached out to Anne following the event and I am so glad that I did!
Anne is a creator, advocate and blind storyteller. Leveraging her influential presence on social media, Anne actively utilizes her platform to bring education and awareness to the blind and visually impaired community. She started her business, Purpose in View, to inspire a barrier-free world, with a clear vision and purpose to live to your full potential. Anne’s recent TEDx talk, Blind Sighted, is a testament to her unwavering belief that true inclusion is not only attainable but necessary in our world today.
Listen in as we talk about:
[2:55] The journey that led Anne to start Purpose in View
[5:50] Receiving a life-changing diagnosis
[11:55] What it means to be a digital storyteller
[15:30] Takeaways from Anne’s TEDx talk
[21:25] How accessible are social media platforms really?
[26:40] Three things we can do to make our social media posts more accessible
[35:35] Opportunities and resources to learn about during Blindness Awareness Month in October
[39:50] Anne’s favorite teachers
[42:40] What Anne is most proud of
Connect with Anne:
Website: https://purposeinview.com
Instagram: @purposeinview https://www.instagram.com/purposeinview/
Facebook: @purposeinview https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071325735929
TikTok: @purposeinview https://www.tiktok.com/@purposeinview
TEDx Talk: Anne Mok - Blind Sighted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9IaJp5TLzA
Shared by Anne:
October is Blindness Awareness Month
World Sight Day always falls on the second Thursday of October. This year it is on Thursday, October 12 2023.
In the US, October 15 is White Cane Awareness Day and Blind Americans Equality Day.
Resources to get involved and learn more:
Follow: #WorldSightDay on social media
World Sight Day: https://www.iapb.org/world-sight-day/
CNIB: Canadian National Institute for the Blind: https://www.cnib.ca
Fighting Blindness Canada: https://www.fightingblindness.ca
Connect with Tiana:
Website: https://tianafech.com
LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
Instagram: @tianafech
Facebook: @tianafech
Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course
BEING A DIGITAL STORYTELLER
Anne shares her enthusiasm for storytelling, highlighting its ability to engage learners of all ages and make content more meaningful. She discusses her role as a digital storyteller, focusing on the use of social media, especially Instagram, to bridge the gap between the sighted and visually impaired communities.
Anne acknowledges the importance of technology, particularly smartphones, for the visually impaired community and aims to educate others about the diverse spectrum of blindness.
Through storytelling, she seeks to connect these communities and raise awareness using various digital tools such as music, audio descriptions, and alt text. Anne's approach emphasizes the power of storytelling and technology to convey important messages and promote understanding between different perspectives and experiences.
HOW ACCESSIBLE ARE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS REALLY?
Anne discusses the accessibility of Instagram as a social media platform. She notes that while Instagram has seen rapid growth since its launch in 2010, its accessibility features have been slow to develop. Anne points out that making Instagram accessible often requires users,